Material Spill Sensor for Mobile Agricultural Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile agricultural machines face challenges in detecting and managing material spills during operations, as operators may not be aware of spills due to obstructed views, noise from the machine, or distractions, leading to difficulties in determining the location and amount of spilled material.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a material spill sensor system that includes imaging, electromagnetic radiation, audible/acoustic, contact, and mass sensors to detect spills and generate signals for a control system to determine the occurrence, location, and amount of material spilled, allowing for appropriate actions such as adjusting the machine's heading or speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If operators rely on visual inspection to detect material spills, then they can identify spills when visible, but their view is obstructed by machine components and they cannot detect spills in obscured areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual inspection system with electronic sensors (acoustic sensors, imaging sensors, electromagnetic radiation sensors) that can detect material spills through obstacles and in areas invisible to the human eye. These sensors convert physical phenomena (sound waves, electromagnetic radiation, image data) into electrical signals for processing, eliminating the limitation of human visual obstruction.
2Measurement precision
If operators monitor for material spills during machine operation, then they can respond to spills, but machine noise drowns out the sound of spilling material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces human auditory monitoring with electronic acoustic sensors that can isolate and detect specific frequency ranges associated with material spills. The sensor system processes acoustic signals electronically, filtering out machine noise through signal processing algorithms while amplifying and detecting the characteristic sounds of material spilling, thus overcoming the masking effect of machine operational noise.
3Productivity
If operators focus on machine operation tasks, then they can maintain productivity, but they become distracted and fail to notice material spills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-monitoring system where the machine automatically detects and reports material spills without requiring operator attention. The sensor system continuously monitors for spills and provides automated alerts through the user interface, allowing operators to maintain focus on primary operational tasks while the system independently performs spill detection and notification functions.
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensor types are deployed to detect material spills, then detection coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensor types (acoustic, imaging, electromagnetic radiation) into a single multi-functional detection system that processes various types of sensor data through a unified control system. The user interface consolidates information from all sensor types into comprehensive spill detection and reporting, allowing the system to leverage multiple detection methods while presenting a simplified operational interface to the user.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively detects and responds to material spills, reducing material loss and improving operational efficiency by providing real-time alerts and control actions to mitigate spillage.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic radiation (ER) sensor configured to receive electromagnetic radiation that travels through an area outside of the material receptacle
Implementation Method 2
an audible/acoustic sensor configured to detect a noise caused by contact between the material and a surface outside of the material receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile machine includes a material receptacle configured to hold a material and a material spill sensor configured to detect a characteristic indicative of a material spill characteristic and to generate a sensor signal based on the detected characteristic. The mobile machine further includes a control system configured to determine the material spill characteristic based on the sensor signal. In some examples, the control system is configured to generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile machine based on the determined material spill characteristic.